Means for securing tools on handles



N0. 6l0,733. Patented Sept. l3, I898.

A. BIGGS, In. MEANS FOR SECURING TOOLS 0N HANDLES.

(Application filed May 6, 1898.)

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PATENT Fries.

ALDEN BIGGS, JR., OF WESTHAMPTON, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR SECURING TOOLS ON HANDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,733, datedSeptember 13, 1898.

Application filed May 6, 1898- Serial No. 679,950x (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALDEN BIG'GS, Jr., a citizen of the United States,residing at West hampton, in the county of Suffolk and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forSecuring Tools on Handles, of which the following is a full and completespecification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to keys or looks for securing hatchets, axes, andsimilar tools on a handle; and the object thereof is to provide animproved device of this class which is simple in construction andoperation and well adapted to accomplish the result for which it isintended.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is asectional side view of an ax secured to a handle by means of myimprovement; Fig. 2, a section thereof on the line 2 2, and Fig. 3 anend view at right angles to Fig. 1.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts ofmy improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in eachof the views, and in said drawings I have shown at 5 an ordinary axprovided with a handle 6; but it will be apparent that my improvementmaybe applied to a hatchet, hammer, or other similar tool. The part 7 ofthe handle,which passes through the ax, is split longitudinally of itsgreatest diameter, as shown at 8, or provided with a groove whichextends inwardly about onethird of the length of the part 7 of thehandle, and this split or groove communicates with an interior groove orpassage 9, which is greater in cross-section than the split or groove 8.

I also provide an oblong key-platelO, which is of the form shown inFigs. 1 and 3 and which is slightly wider at one end than at the otherand which is provided adjacent to one end, preferably the wider end,with an inwardlydirected key-wedge 11, the sides of which are serratedor provided with teeth or projections, as shown in Fig. 2, and the innerend of which is provided with a cross head 12, which is adapted to turntransversely in the groove or passage 9. The plate 10 is as wide as thatpart of the ax 5 through which the handle passes is thick, and theoperation will be readily understood from the foregoing description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the followingstatement thereof.

The ax being placed in position on the handle, the key-wedge 11 isforced through the split or groove 8 until the head 9 thereof enters thegroove or passage 12, and in this operation the plate 10 is heldtransversely of the handle. The plate 10 is then swung into the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3, and this turns the key-wedge 11, which is muchwider than it is thick, transversely of the split or groove 11 and thehead 9 thereof transversely of the groove or passage 12, which operationsecurely locks the key-plate 10 to the handle and holds the ax in placethereon, and I also provide a pin or nail 13, which is driven through ahole 14 in the key-plate l0 and into the end of the handle, as shown inFig. 1, and this pin or-nail prevents the key-plate from swinging orbeing swung out of the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

My improvement is simple in construction and operation and is perfectlyadapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended and is alsocomparatively inexpensive.

The split or groove 8 need not extend entirely through the longerdiameter of the handle, and other changes in and modifications of theconstruction described may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. An ax, hatchet or similar tool provided with ahandle one end of which passes therethrough in the usual manner, the endof the handle which passes through the tool being provided with a splitor groove which communicates with an interior passage or groove, and akey-plate provided with a key-wedge which is adapted to be inserted intoand through said first-named split or groove and which is provided atits inner end with a head which is adapted to turn in the interiorpassage or groove, substantially as shown and described.

2. An ax, hatchet or similar tool provided with a handle one end ofwhich passes therethrough in the usual manner, the end of the handlewhich passes through the tool being provided with a split or groovewhich com Inunicates with an interior passage or groove, and a key-plateprovided with a key-wedge which is adapted to be inserted into andthrough said first-named split or groove and which is provided at itsinner end with a head which is adapted to turn in the interior passageor groove, and said key-wedge being provided on its opposite sides withserrations or teeth, substantially as shown and described.

3. An ax, hatchet or similar tool provided with a handle one end ofwhich passes therethrough in the usual manner, the end of the handlewhich passes through the tool being provided with a split or groovewhich com- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention Ihave signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 3dday 35 of May, 1898.

ALDEN BIGGS, JR. Witnesses:

FRANK GORDON, FRED. R. J AGGER.

